Arts, Briefly; Quaid Drops 'Brokeback' Suit

By SHARON WAXMAN; Compiled by Ben Sisario

Published: May 5, 2006

Randy Quaid has dropped his lawsuit against Focus Features over his payment for his role in ''Brokeback Mountain.'' In March, Mr. Quaid, above, sued the studio, a division of NBC-Universal, saying that it was duplicitous in ''pleading poverty'' to get him to accept a tiny salary to be in the movie, which won three Oscars and has taken in $174 million worldwide. Members of Mr. Quaid's camp said a separate mediation process had resolved the matter, with Universal orally agreeing to pay Mr. Quaid about $1 million in exchange for dropping the suit. Focus denied any mediation or settlement, and said Mr. Quaid dropped the lawsuit unilaterally. SHARON WAXMAN